DE60203525T2 - DEVICE AND METHOD IN OFFICE APPLICATION FOR PROVIDING CONTENT-RELATED AID - Google Patents

Abstract

System and program product are provided for facilitating on-line help information in an office application which includes one or more objects. The on-line help information is dependent on content of a selected object of the office application. A user of the office application is provided with help information setting forth an example directly derived from content of the currently selected object or cell. Content of a user entry field within the object is parsed to determine whether a predefined keyword is present, and if so, at least one parameter associated with the keyword and at least one format or rule related to the at least one parameter are identified. The at least one format and rule specified in the help information are employed in correcting content of the user entry field, for example, for display to the user.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The The present invention relates to the field of data processing by digital computer and in particular a method and a system in an office application such as an electronic table processing for Providing help information consistent with the content of currently selected Table cell communicate.

BACKGROUND THE INVENTION

In front the introduction computers have been numerically analyzed, in particular financial analysis, usually manually by means of a pencil and a calculator executed on a column board or table of the accountant. By the arrangement of the data in columns and rows is provided by the tables give a reader a quick overview of the Information. Creating a spreadsheet on the paper is done but not quite so fast. Rather, this process runs very slowly, because every value is tedious calculated and entered in the table. Because all calculations subject to the responsibility of the processor of the table, Manually created tables are easy to error. Consequently is the creation of tables by hand slow, tedious and unreliable.

With the introduction of microcomputers became a solution in the form of "electronic Tables " Software programs, also known as "spreadsheets" (spreadsheets, worksheets) are, replace the conventional ones Financial accounting tools, bookkeeper's lists, the pencil and the calculator by computer. In a certain way Relationship, the spreadsheet programs behave to the usual Means like the word processor to typewriters. Spreadsheet programs make it easy to create, change and use of financial models significantly.

One typical spreadsheet programs the memory of a Computers so that they like a column / row or grid format the list of an accountant thus has a visible one to a user Calculator shows. However, because this "list" is in computer memory is dynamically created, it differs by several important ones Characteristics of lists on paper. For example, the computer must have seats in the electronic table in a format that is understandable to him. A common one Scheme for this is a number and each in a table of each line Assign a letter to a column. For example, a place in To designate column A and row 1 (i.e., the top left corner) the user "A1" in this way defines the table at each intersection between a row and a column an addressable memory space or a "cell".

The Data entry into an electronic table is almost the same as with the input of data in the board of an accountant. After this a cursor has been moved to the desired position on the screen, the user can enter alphanumeric information. Except text and number information can Table cells, however, also store special instructions or "formulas" which to do with the numbers stored in table cells Specify calculations. In this way, cell references can be in an equation serve as variables and so precise define mathematical relationships between the cells. The structure and how a spreadsheet program works, including higher-level functions such as mathematical functions and macros are in the technical, commercial and patent literature. An overview is e.g. at Cobb, S., "Using Quattro Pro 2 ", Borland-Osborne-McGraw-Hill, 1990, and LeBlond, G. and Cobb. D., "Using 1-2-3 ", ibid., 1985, to find.

electronic Tables offer opposite Their paper analogues have numerous advantages. First, electronic Tables much more extensive (that is, they contain more data) as tables on paper; electronic tables with thousands or even millions of cells are not rare. Spreadsheets enable users to play through "what-if" scenarios Set of computational rules in a worksheet may be due entered formulas and / or built-in functions such as the Distribution of information using different sets of Baseline values are calculated several times, with the results of each Calculation can be displayed almost immediately. To this operation To execute manually with paper and pencil would have to be every relationship with every change made recalculated in the model. Thus, electronic spreadsheet systems to the solution of "what-if" issues been, that is, to see what happens to a result when the baseline changed becomes.

In addition to user manuals such as user guides, conventional electronic spreadsheets include built-in help directories for displaying online help information on the user screen. This feature greatly enhances the ease of use and ergonomics of electronic spreadsheets by providing a stand-alone environment that combines multiple aspects of the tool the functional and the information aspect. In addition, some methods allow the presentation of context-sensitive online help information so that the user obtains the help information concerned in conjunction with the current context of the tool. For example, if the online help information in a dialog box is to aid the spreadsheet program's user in file-oriented manipulations, it will only provide such help information pertaining specifically to those file manipulations.

to Automation of calculations in a table built-in functions within formulas can be quite complex and thus difficult to tune and update to let. Therefore, it is desirable to rely on the help information to understand how such built-in functions are applied. In conventional Tools for electronic tables explained such help information for built-in functions usually gives up the function's function certain arguments may occur too frequently Application errors finally give and illustrate the function an example. All this information can be extensive and at the most complex functions for the "average User "sometimes difficult to comprehend be. This is the case in particular if this is to illustrate the Function serving example strongly of the practical application of the user. In such a case, the online help information provides no real help as there is no match with the the data used by the user of the table. This problem is solved by the present invention, which is the data processing and in particular a user interface, preferably in one Spreadsheet program, and provides a content-dependent online help. This content-based Help applies to objects such as table cells whose Content entered and processed by the user. The content-dependent help differs from context dependent help (on the state the technique) in that they are not in a space-time environment refers - where the spatial context through the physical / geographic coordinates of the user's screen and the temporal context through the logical sequence of the different tasks and routines is defined. The content of an object is provided by the user entered. The user-entered content of an object must a certain rule, syntax, grammar or orthography suffice. One For example, a user can enter a value, a formula, a code, or a programming language with predefined numbers, parameters, keywords or remarks enter. Another task of content-based help is to give the user examples that are not general but tailored to the set of already defined objects. The purpose of such a function is to give the user the opportunity to give these examples with as few changes as possible in the input fields to import or copy / transfer.

In Document GB-A-23 48 523 describes a data input component, a value limit for the Input data is subject to a component type and, if the Input data violate this value restriction, for this Component provides an auxiliary strategy.

OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTION

• • Erkennen eines Onlinehilfe-Befehls als Folge einer Benutzeraktion;
• • Kennzeichnen eines ausgewählten Objekts
• • Festellen, ob sich ein Benutzer-Eingabefeld auf das ausgewählte Objekt bezieht;

wenn sich ein Benutzer-Eingabefeld auf das ausgewählte Objekt bezieht:

• • Kennzeichnen des Inhalts des Benutzer-Eingabefeldes;
• • Analysieren des Inhalts des Benutzer-Eingabefeldes, um herauszufinden, ob irgendein vordefiniertes Schlüsselwort vorhanden ist, wobei ein Schlüsselwort durch eine Folge von Zeichen gegeben ist;

für jedes gefundene vordefinierte Schlüsselwort Kennzeichnen des Inhalts des Benutzer-Eingabefeldes:

• • Kennzeichnen einer vordefinierten Hilfeinformation, sofern diese vorhanden ist, die dem Schlüsselwort zugehörig ist, wobei die Hilfeinformation einen aus einer Vielzahl von zu dem Schlüsselwort gehörenden Parametern angibt; und eine oder mehrere Formate und Regeln, die sich auf den einen oder die mehreren Parameter beziehen;
• • Analysieren des Inhalts des Benutzer-Eingabefeldes, um den einen oder die Vielzahl von in den vordefinierten Hilfeinformationen angegebenen Parametern zu kennzeichnen;
• • Überprüfen, ob das Format des einen oder der Vielzahl von Parametern in dem Benutzer-Eingabefeld den in den vordefinierten Hilfeinformationen festgelegten Formaten entspricht;
• • Überprüfen, ob der eine oder die Vielzahl von Parametern in dem Benutzer-Eingabefeld den in den vordefinierten Hilfeinformationen festgelegten Regeln entspricht;

The present invention describes a system, method and computer program for providing on-line help information in an office application comprising one or a plurality of objects, the invention being defined in the appended claims and the online help information on the content of a selected object depend. The method comprises the following steps:

• • detecting an online help command as a result of a user action;
• • Mark a selected object
• Determining whether a user input field refers to the selected object;

if a user input field refers to the selected object:

• Marking the contents of the user input field;
• Analyzing the contents of the user input field to find out whether any predefined keyword exists, a keyword being given by a sequence of characters;

for each predefined keyword found Identifying the content of the user input field:

• Identifying a predefined help information, if any, associated with the keyword, the help information indicating one of a plurality of parameters associated with the keyword; and one or more formats and rules related to the one or more parameters;
• Analyzing the content of the user input field to identify the one or more parameters specified in the predefined help information;
• • checking whether the format of the one or more parameters in the user input field corresponds to the formats defined in the predefined help information;
• • checking that the one or more parameters in the user input field match the rules set in the predefined help information;

• • Korrigieren des Inhalts des Benutzer-Eingabefeldes gemäß dem/der einen oder der Vielzahl von in der Hilfeinformation angegebenen Formaten und Regeln und Korrigieren des Inhalts der entsprechenden ausgewählten Objekte und Anzeigen des korrigierten Inhalts und der zugehörigen Hilfeinformation.

If the content of the user input field does not correspond to a format or a rule specified in the help information of a predefined keyword in the content of the user input field:

• • correcting the contents of the user input field according to the one or more formats specified in the help information, and controlling and correcting the contents of the corresponding selected objects and displaying the corrected content and the associated help information.

Further embodiments The invention is set forth in the appended subclaims.

SUMMARY THE DRAWINGS

The novel and inventive features, as for The invention are to be regarded as indicative in the appended claims explained. However, the invention itself and the preferred mode of application, Other tasks and their benefits are best understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative detailed embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

1A Figure 3 is a schematic view of a computer system in which the present invention may be practiced.

1B Figure 3 is a schematic view of a software system including an operating system, application software, and user interface for carrying out the present invention.

1C illustrates the basic architecture and functionality of a graphical user interface in which the present invention may be practiced.

2A shows a table of a notebook user interface according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 B the toolbar of in 2A shown notebook user interface.

2C and 2D Page IDs for quick access to individual pages of the 2A shown notebook user interface and to edit them.

3 illustrates the structure of the Content Dependent Keyword Table (CDK Table) according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

4 Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred method of the content dependent help information system according to the present invention.

5A and 5B show a preferred table user interface showing the advantage of the invention in a preferred embodiment.

6A . 6B . 6C . 6C and 6E conventional dialog boxes used to display on-line help information and a preferred user interface home dialog box used for displaying content dependent online help information in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

system hardware

1A shows that the present invention is in a computer system 100 with a central processor 101 , a main memory 102 an input / output control unit 103 , a keyboard 104 , a pointing device 105 (eg mouse, trackball, pen unit or the like), a display device 106 and a mass storage 107 (eg hard disk) can be realized. If required, additional input / output units such as a printer unit 108 in the system 100 be included. as shown are the various components of the system 100 via a system bus 110 or a similar architecture with each other. In a preferred embodiment, the computer system includes 100 a commercially available IBM compatible personal computer (including International Business Machines, IBM Corporation, Armonk, New York).

1B shows a computer software system 150 to operate the computer system 100 , That in system memory 102 and in disk storage 107 stored software system 150 contains a kernel or an operating system 151 and a surface 153 , One or more application programs such as the application software 152 can be run through the system 100 "Loaded" (ie from memory 107 to the store 102 be transmitted. The system 100 receives user commands and data via the user interface 153 ; these inputs can be made according to the instructions from the operating system module 151 and / or the application program module 152 are processed. The surface 153 , preferably a graphical user interface (GUI) is also used to display the results, after which the user can make further input or terminate the session. In a preferred embodiment, it serves as the operating system 151 and as a user interface 153 Microsoft Win95, available from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington. The application program module 152 however, a spreadsheet includes the present invention, which will be described in detail below.

user interface

A. Introduction

The The following description focuses on the currently preferred ones Embodiments of present invention, which in spreadsheet applications be realized running in a Microsoft Win95 environment. However, the present invention is not limited to particular applications or a specific environment. The person skilled in the art is rather clear that the system and the present invention of the present Invention advantageous to a variety of system and application software can be applied, including database systems, word processing systems and similar. About that In addition, the present invention can be applied to a variety of different platforms can be used, e.g. MacIntosh, UNIX, NextStep and the like. The following description of the exemplary embodiments is provided therefore only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.

The system 100 in 1C contains a window surface or a work surface 160 , The window 160 is a rectangular graphical user interface (GUI) for viewing on a screen 106 ; If desired, further window elements can be displayed in different sizes and formats (eg side by side or overlapping). In the upper part of the window 160 there is a menu bar 170 with a variety of selectable user commands that can be used to access additional submenus and software tools for use with the application objects. The window 160 contains a client area 180 for viewing and editing screen objects, for example a graphical object 181 and a text object 182 , The client area is basically a work or viewing area for the user to manipulate the data object residing in the computer system 100 are located.

The window surface 160 includes a screen cursor or pointer 185 to select or otherwise invoke screen objects of interest. In response to the user's motion signals from the pointing device 105 the cursor hovers 185 (ie moves freely) across the screen 106 to a desired location of the screen. During or after cursor movement, the user may generate known user event signals for selecting and manipulating objects in the art (eg, "click" and "drag" with the mouse button). The window 160 For example, it can be closed, resized, or flipped through screen components 172 . 174 / 175 respectively. 177 / 178 "Clicked" (selected).

In a preferred embodiment, the screen cursor becomes 185 controlled by a mouse. There are mice with one, two or three buttons from different manufacturers, for example Apple Computer, Cupertino, California, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, and Logitech Corporation, Fremont, California. Particularly preferred is as a control unit 105 for the screen cursor a mouse with two buttons used, with a right and a left mouse button.

programming techniques and methods for mice adequately described in the programming and hardware literature; see, e.g. Microsoft Mouse Programmer's Reference, Microsoft Press, 1989. The general structure and the How a GUI event-driven system works, such as Windows is also known in the art: see, e.g. Petzold, C., Programming Windows, Second Edition, Microsoft Press, 1990.

B. Preferred User Interface

Combined with 2A In the following, a spreadsheet notebook user interface of the present invention will be described. The spreadsheet notebook or spreadsheet of the present invention includes a work surface 200 the notebook to receive, process and display information, including alphanumeric and graphical information. The work surface 200 the notebook contains a menu bar 210 , a toolbar 220 , an ad 230 the current cell, an input line 231 , a status line 240 and a notebook window 250 , The menu bar 210 depicts a major level of user commands and invokes them in response to user input. The menu 210 also invokes other pop-up menus known from windowing applications. In the input line 231 User commands and information are entered and cell contents such as data, formulas, macros, and the like are changed. The ad 230 shows an address of the current cursor position (ie the active cell) or the address or name of a selected name range (ie active selection). In the status bar 240 shows the system 100 Information about the current status of the workbook; For example, the "READY" indicator means that the system is ready for the user to select another task to run.

In the 2 B detailed function bar 220 includes a set or range of tools that allow the user to quickly select frequently used menu commands or properties. In an exemplary embodiment, the toolbar contains 220 Buttons for file editing 221 , for printing 222 , Undo buttons 223 , to cut, copy and paste 224 , the buttons for information dialog box 225 , a column formatting button 228 and a summation button 229 , The functions of these buttons are denoted by their names. The buttons 224 for example, to cut, copy and paste data and objects into or out of the Windows clipboard. The same actions are also available as corresponding commands in the edit menu (menu bar 210 ) available.

The notebook provides a surface for inputting and displaying information of interest and includes a plurality of spreadsheets. Each sheet may include conventional Windows features and functions, such as move, resize, and delete. In a preferred embodiment, the notebook contains 256 Worksheets that work together as a file in disk mass storage 107 are stored. The work surface 200 can display one or more notebooks that have been assigned a specific size and location (eg, side-by-side, overlapping, and the like) according to the custom presets.

Each sheet of a notebook contains a two-dimensional representation. The sheet A in the notebook 200 contains, for example, a grid in row and column format, such as row 3 and column F. At each intersection between a row and a column, there is a box or cell (eg, cell C4) for inputting, processing, and displaying Information in the conventional way. Each cell can be addressed, with a selector for displaying a currently active cell (ie, the currently selected cell).

2C and 2D show individual notebook sheets, which by preferably along an edge of a notebook running sheet identifiers 260 Marked are. In a preferred embodiment, each sheet identifier has the form of a tabulator (eg tabs) 261a . 262a and 263a ), which are located along an upper edge of the notebook. Each tab may contain representative characters, for example, graphic or text characters, including user-selected titles, relating to the contents of a corresponding worksheet. In 2C are for the tabs 260 their respective default names have been chosen. For example, the first three tabs (tabs 261a . 262a and 263a ) A, B and C, respectively. Normally, however, the user assigns descriptive names to the tabs. In 2D For example, for the first three tabs, the terms "content" (Tab 261a ), "Summary" (Tab 262a ) and "Jan" (tab 263a ). Similarly, the other tabs were set to the month names of the year. In this way, the user uses the sheet identifiers as the familiar page markers of a normal paper notebook. Thus, the user always knows how to select a searched worksheet or table: he simply selects the tab of that page (just like selecting a page in a paper notebook.

The Custom sheet labels not only make selection easier a specific datasheet, but also support the entry of area addresses, which contain the table name. For example, if a formula is entered, referring to a particular range of cells on another worksheet The user can simply use the descriptive name of the user Specify the worksheet in this address range, and thus the references of the specified Cell (s) or information overview.

A general description of the features and functionality of the spreadsheet notebook UI is in "Quattro Pro for Windows "(Getting Started, User's Guide and Building Spreadsheet Applications) from Borland International to find.

Content-dependent online help information

A. Introduction

Conventional spreadsheets usually incorporate means by which users can access their display unit 106 Easily view online help information. Typical examples of such means are button objects, menu or submenu entries, or shortcuts that a spreadsheet user can click on with the pointing device 105 or by typing on the keyboard 104 can activate.

• • in der äußersten linken Spalte das Land,
• • in der zweiten Spalte der Wechselkurs zum Euro,
• • in der dritten Spalte der Wechselkurs zum US-Dollar, und
• • in der vierten Spalte ganz rechts der ISO-Währungscode angegeben ist.

This is exemplified by the example 5A illustrates which a part of the display unit 106 with two defined tables. The first cell area 501 with the address B3 ... E16 corresponds to a table with information on European currencies, where:

• • in the extreme left column, the land,
• • in the second column, the exchange rate to the euro,
• • in the third column, the exchange rate against the US dollar, and
• • in the fourth column on the far right is the ISO currency code.

For this area 501 The name CURRENCY has been used, which can be referred to by formulas in some cells in order to determine an exchange rate from information for a particular country.

• • die äußerste linke Spalte den Namen der Stadt als Standort der Filiale,
• • die zweite Spalte den Namen des Landes, in welchem sich die Filiale befindet,
• • die dritte Spalte den in lokaler Währung angegebenen Erlös der Filiale,
• • die vierte Spalte den in Euro angegebenen Gesamterlös, und
• • die fünfte Spalte ganz rechts den in US-Dollar angegebenen Gesamterlös.

The second area 502 with the address B19 ... 27 corresponds to a table that shows the revenue for stores in Europe as well as the total revenue for Europe in euros and in US dollars. In this second area 502 shows:

• • the leftmost column shows the name of the city as the location of the store,
• • the second column shows the name of the country in which the branch is located,
• • the third column shows the revenue of the branch, expressed in local currency,
• • the fourth column shows the total revenue expressed in euro, and
• • The fifth column on the far right represents the total revenue shown in US dollars.

To calculate the total revenue in the fourth column of the range 502 The user of the spreadsheet first selects by conventional means, such as the pointing device 105 or the keyboard 104 the cell 503 with the address E21 so that this cell becomes the currently selected cell. Then the user of the spreadsheet can use the keyboard 104 Relevant formulas in the currently selected cell 503 enter in the input window 504 you can see. At the in 5A example shown is the content of the currently selected cell 503 :
"+ E20 + D21 / @ DGET ($ CURRENCY," RATE% XEU "; COUNTRY = C 21)".

As soon as the contents of the cell violate the rules of the syntax and / or the dictionary defined in the spreadsheet environment, the value of this cell is "ERR". 503 (Error) is displayed.

• • Der erste Ordner 601 stellt eine Oberfläche in Form eines „Inhaltsverzeichnisses" dar, in welchem der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation so zwischen allen Online-Hilfeinformationen navigieren kann, wie wenn er ein Buch lesen würde.
• • Der dritte Ordner 603 stellt als Oberfläche eine „Suchmaschine" dar, mittels derer der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation sämtliche Stellen finden kann, an denen eine benutzerdefinierte Zeichenfolge in der gesamten Online-Hilfeinformation vorkommt.
• • Der zweite Ordner 602 stellt als Oberfläche einen „Index" dar, mittels dessen der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation durch Angeben vordefinierter Indexbegriffe durch die gesamte Online-Hilfeinformation navigieren kann. Das Angeben dieser Indexbegriffe kann auf zweierlei Art erfolgen:
• • Erstens kann der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation die ersten Buchstaben des Indexbegriffes mittels der Tastatur 104 in ein dafür vorgesehenes Eingabefeld 610 gemäß 6B eingeben. Sobald der erste in alphabetischer Reihenfolge den angegebenen Buchstaben vorangehende gültige Indexbegriff erkannt wird, wird der Inhalt des Fensters 605 aktualisiert und zeigt den gewählten Indexbegriff.
• • Zweitens kann der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation direkt die Zeigervorrichtung 105 verwenden, um einen Begriff innerhalb des Fensters 605 auszuwählen oder mittels des Schiebefeldes 609 innerhalb dieses Fensters 605 zu navigieren.

In such a situation, the spreadsheet user can invoke the built-in Online Help tool to understand what the value "ERR" means, by using traditional means available in electronic spreadsheet tools, such as a pointing device 105 or a keyboard 104 to display an in 6A shown first user interface dialog box 600 named "Help Topics." This dialog box 600 contains three folders 601 . 602 and 603 ,

• • The first folder 601 presents a "table of contents" interface in which the spreadsheet user can navigate between all online help information as if reading a book.
• • The third folder 603 presents as a surface a "search engine" by means of which the user of the spreadsheet can find all the places where a user-defined string occurs in the entire online help information.
• • The second folder 602 presents as an interface an "index" by means of which the user of the spreadsheet can navigate through the entire online help information by specifying predefined index terms.These index terms can be specified in two ways:
• • First, the user of the spreadsheet can use the keyboard to get the first letters of the index term 104 in a dedicated input field 610 according to 6B enter. As soon as the first valid index term preceding the specified letter in alphabetical order is recognized, the content of the window becomes 605 updates and displays the selected index term.
• • Second, the spreadsheet user can directly use the pointing device 105 use a term within the window 605 or by means of the sliding field 609 within this window 605 to navigate.

Regardless of the method used, an index term is used 611 within the window 605 the dialog box 600 selected. In this example, the spreadsheet user selected the string "DGET" as the index term because he suspects that he has the built-in function "@DGET" in the content of the currently selected cell 503 used incorrectly.

• • Die Schaltfläche 621 mit der Bezeichnung „HelpTopics" (Hilfethemen) ermöglicht dem Benutzer, zur vorigen Dialogbox 600 zurückzukehren.
• • Die Schaltfläche 622 mit der Bezeichnung „Print" (Drucken) ermöglicht das Ausdrucken des Inhalts der Dialogbox 620 auf einem Drucker 108.
• • Die Schaltfläche 623 mit der Bezeichnung „Go Back" (Zurück) ermöglicht dem Benutzer, zum zuvor angezeigten Inhalt (falls vorhanden) derselben Dialogbox 620 zurückzukehren.
• • Schließlich zeigt das Fenster 624 diejenige Online-Hilfeinformation, welche dem im vorangehenden Schritt ausgewählten Indexbegriff entspricht. Diese Information kann Hypertextbezüge enthalten, sodass weitere Informationen direkt angezeigt werden können. Dies wird durch den Bezug 625 veranschaulicht, der auf ein Beispiel der integrierten Funktion @DGET zeigt. Wenn der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation mit der Zeigervorrichtung 105 auf den Hypertextbezug 625 klickt, wird auf der Anzeigevorrichtung 106 eine neue Dialogbox 630 gemäß 6D angezeigt.

In the next step, the user of the spreadsheet clicks on the pointing device 105 on the button 606 labeled "Display." This will display on the display unit 106 a new dialog box 620 according to 6C displayed. This new dialog box 620 contains several objects 621 . 622 . 623 and 624 which are described below:

• • The button 621 named "HelpTopics" allows the user to go to the previous dialog box 600 to return.
• • The button 622 labeled "Print" allows printing the contents of the dialog box 620 on a printer 108 ,
• • The button 623 labeled "Go Back" allows the user to view the previously displayed content (if any) of the same dialog box 620 to return.
• • Finally, the window shows 624 the online help information corresponding to the index term selected in the previous step. This information can contain hypertext links so that further information can be displayed directly. This is by reference 625 which points to an example of the built-in function @DGET. If the user of the spreadsheet with the pointing device 105 on the hypertext reference 625 clicks on the display device 106 a new dialog box 630 according to 6D displayed.

• • Die Schaltfläche mit der Bezeichnung „HelpTopics" (Hilfethemen) ermöglicht dem Benutzer, zur vorigen Dialogbox 600 zurückzukehren.
• • Die Schaltfläche 632 mit der Bezeichnung „Print" (Drucken) ermöglicht dem Benutzer, den Inhalt der Dialogbox 630 auf dem Drucker 108 auszudrucken.
• • Die Schaltfläche 633 mit der Bezeichnung „Go Back" (Zurück) ermöglicht dem Benutzer, zum zuvor angezeigten Inhalt (falls vorhanden) derselben Dialogbox 630 zurückzukehren.
• • Schließlich zeigt das Fenster 634 diejenige Online-Hilfeinformation, welche beim vorliegenden Beispiel dem Beispiel der integrierten Funktion @DGET entspricht. Dieses Beispiel basiert auf einer Pseudotabelle 635, deren Typ, Inhalt und Größe unveränderlich sind. Durch Vergleichen der in diesem Pseudobeispiel im Fenster 634 der Dialogbox 630 dargestellten Syntax der integrierten Funktion mit dem Inhalt der im Eingabefenster 504 dargestellten aktuell ausgewählten Zelle 503 ist der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation kaum in der Lage zu verstehen, warum der Wert ERR erscheint. Allgemein gesagt, der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation kann leicht auf ähnliche Situationen treffen, in welchen die Online-Hilfeinformation nicht sehr hilfreich ist (das ist paradox ...), da sie den Benutzer bei der Korrektur von Fehlern nicht unterstützt.

This new dialog box 630 contains several objects 631 . 632 . 633 and 634 which are described below:

• • The button labeled "HelpTopics" allows the user to go to the previous dialog box 600 to return.
• • The button 632 labeled "Print" allows the user to view the contents of the dialog box 630 on the printer 108 print.
• • The button 633 labeled "Go Back" allows the user to view the previously displayed content (if any) of the same dialog box 630 to return.
• • Finally, the window shows 634 the online help information, which in this example corresponds to the example of the integrated function @DGET. This example is based on a dummy table 635 whose type, content and size are unchanging. By comparing the in this pseudo example in the window 634 the dialog box 630 shown syntax of the built-in function with the contents of the input window 504 displayed currently selected cell 503 the user of the spreadsheet is hardly able to understand why the value ERR appears. Generally speaking, the spreadsheet user can easily encounter similar situations in which the online help information is not very helpful (which is paradoxical ...) because it does not support the user in correcting errors.

The The present invention provides a user-friendly solution to these Problems in that the user of the electronic spreadsheet a new kind of online help information gets which offers an example directly from the content of the current chosen Cell is derived. In the following, the corresponding new online help method is referred to as "content-dependent help".

B. Content-Dependent Keyword Table

The display of the content-dependent online help information on the display device 106 According to the procedure content-dependent help is the result of an action of the user of the spreadsheet. When this operation is performed, a common memory called "Content-Dependent Keyword Table" (CDK Table for short) is used to identify the content of the currently selected cell if the content of the currently selected cell includes a keyword indicating the on-line display This CDK table is preferably stored in a nonvolatile memory (usually, but not necessarily, as part of the table file in mass storage 107 ).

• • Das Feld „Keyword" (Schlüsselwort) 302 wird zum Aufzeichnen der Zeichenfolge verwendet, welche ein Schlüsselwort eindeutig kennzeichnet.
• • Das Feld „Parameter Template" (Parametervorlage) 303 (auch als „Argumentvorlage" bezeichnet) dient zur Beschreibung der Formate und Regeln, nach welchen sich die Beschreibung von Parametern (sofern vorhanden) richtet, welche dem durch das Feld „Keyword" (Schlüsselwort) 302 bezeichneten Schlüsselwort zugeordnet sind. Zur Beschreibung einer solchen Parametervorlage können verschiedene herkömmliche Bezeichnungsverfahren verwendet werden. Diese Bezeichnungsverfahren beeinflussen in keiner Weise den Geltungsbereich der vorliegenden Erfindung. Zu beachten ist, dass die Begriffe „Parameter" und „Argument" in der vorliegenden Beschreibung im gleichen Sinne gebraucht werden. Bei einer bevorzugten Ausführungsart der vorliegenden Erfindung kann ein Schlüsselwort einer vordefinierten integrierten Funktion entsprechen, die durch einen Satz von Parametern gemäß vordefinierten Formaten und/oder vordefinierten Regeln aufgerufen muss.
• • Das Feld „TextPtr" (Textzeiger) 304 ist ein Verweis, der auf den Speicherplatz zeigt, an welchem die dem durch das Feld „Keyword" 302 gekennzeichneten Schlüsselwort zugeordnete Hilfeinformation gespeichert ist. Dieser Speicherplatz kann sich entweder im Massenspeicher 107 oder im Hauptspeicher 102 oder in einem anderen herkömmlichen Speichermittel befinden, ohne dass der Geltungsbereich der vorliegenden Erfindung verlassen wird.

The CDK table 300 from 3 corresponds to a simple logical structure that consists of multiple records 301 each corresponding to a keyword associated with the content-dependent help information according to the present invention. Each record contains three fields:

• • The Keyword field 302 is used to record the string that uniquely identifies a keyword.
• • The "Parameter Template" field (parameter template) 303 (also known as the "argument template") is used to describe the formats and rules that govern the description of parameters (if any) that match the description given by the Keyword field. 302 are assigned to the designated keyword. For describing such a parameter template, various conventional designation methods can be used. These naming methods in no way affect the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that the terms "parameter" and "argument" are used in the same sense in the present specification. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a keyword may correspond to a predefined integrated function that must be invoked by a set of parameters according to predefined formats and / or predefined rules.
• • The "TextPtr" field (text pointer) 304 is a reference that points to the space at which the keyword is represented by the Keyword field. 302 stored keyword associated help information is stored. This space can be either in mass storage 107 or im main memory 102 or in any other conventional storage means without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Building and updating this table itself are conventional and easy. Each keyword that is eligible for use of the present invention must be a particular record 301 in the CDK table 300 be assigned. The different ways to add, remove or update records 301 in the CDK table 300 used agents are independent of the embodiment and are therefore not considered as part of the present invention.

C. Scenario

in the Unlike the conventional tools described above, the present Invention a more powerful, more user-friendly and interactive approach in the form of such "content-dependent help" to a content-dependent online help information provide.

• • Der erste Schritt erfolgt, wenn der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation beschließt, anhand hier nicht genannter Kriterien eine bestimmte Zelle auszuwählen und Inhalt in diese einzugeben oder zu aktualisieren.
• • Der Benutzer wählt die betreffende Zelle mittels herkömmlicher Mittel aus, zum Beispiel, aber nicht notwendigerweise, mittels der Zeigervorrichtung 105 oder der Tastatur 104.
• • Dann kann der Benutzer in den Eingabemodus übergehen, um mittels herkömmlicher Mittel (üblicherweise der Tastatur 104) Inhalte in die ausgewählte Zelle einzugeben oder zu aktualisieren.
• • Der zweite Schritt erfolgt, wenn der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation beschließt, anhand hier nicht genannter eigener Kriterien die Vorteile der vorliegenden Erfindung zum Anzeigen inhaltsabhängiger Hilfeinformation zu nutzen.
• • Der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation ruft mittels in der Tabellenkalkulationsumgebung verfügbarer herkömmlicher Mittel, zum Beispiel, aber nicht notwendigerweise, mittels Schaltflächen, Tastenkombinationen, Menü- oder Untermenübegriffen, einen speziellen Anfangsbefehl mit der Bezeichnung „Content Dependent on-line Help" (Inhaltsabhängige Online-Hilfe) auf. In einer bevorzugten Ausführungsart der vorliegenden Erfindung wird der Befehl Content Dependent on-line Help mittels derselben Mittel aufgerufen, die bei herkömmlichen elektronischen Tabellenkalkulationsprogrammen zum Anzeigen einer herkömmlichen Online-Hilfeinformation zur Verfügung stehen, zum Beispiel (aber nicht darauf beschränkt) durch Anklicken eines Begriffs des Menüs „Hilfe" mittels der Zeigervorrichtung 105 oder durch Drücken der Taste „1" auf der Tastatur 104.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention performs two steps:

• • The first step occurs when the spreadsheet user decides to select a specific cell and enter or update content based on criteria not specified here.
• The user selects the cell in question by conventional means, for example, but not necessarily, using the pointing device 105 or the keyboard 104 ,
• Then, the user can switch to the input mode to use conventional means (usually the keyboard 104 ) To enter or update content in the selected cell.
• The second step occurs when the user of the spreadsheet decides to use the advantages of the present invention for displaying content-dependent help information based on criteria not mentioned here.
• • The spreadsheet user calls, using conventional means available in the spreadsheet environment, for example, but not necessarily, by means of buttons, keyboard shortcuts, menu or submenu items, a special start command called "Content Dependent on-line Help" In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Content Dependent on-line Help command is invoked by the same means available in conventional electronic spreadsheet programs for displaying conventional online help information, for example (but not limited to) by clicking a term of the menu "Help" by means of the pointing device 105 or by pressing the button " 1 " on the keyboard 104 ,

This can be done by the same scenario as the one in 5A be illustrated, in which the user of a spreadsheet first a cell 503 and then fill it with the following content:
"+ E20 + D21 / @ DGET ($ CURRENCY," RATE% XEU "; COUNTRY = C 21)",
resulting in a value of "ERR." In such a situation, the spreadsheet user may normally invoke the built-in online help tool to find out what that value means "ERR." According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conventional means available in electronic spreadsheet programs, for example the pointing device 105 or the keyboard 104 for directly triggering the display of an initial dialog box 640 according to 6E with the online help information on the display device 106 be used. The displayed information is on the content of the currently selected cell 503 tailored.

A first advantage over conventional methods is that the present invention enables the direct display of online help information relating to the content of the currently selected cell. In the 6A . 6B . 6C and 6D The intermediate steps described are combined into a single step, which is the display of the dialog box 640 equivalent. In the example of 6E contains the dialog box 640 an online help information about the integrated function @DGET.

A second advantage over traditional methods is that in the dialog box 640 Information of greater importance to the user of the spreadsheet is more important than that in the dialog boxes 620 and 630 from 6C respectively. 6D represented conventional information. In fact, the dialog box contains 640 the same objects 621 . 622 . 623 and 624 like the dialog box 620 , but also new fields, which are described below. The new field 642 is a display window in which, according to the method of the present invention, content is automatically inputted from the contents of the currently selected cell 503 but has been corrected for the formats and rules that apply to the parameters associated with the built-in @DGET function. At the in 6E As shown, the correction of the contents of the working buffer relates to the second parameter, which should be a valid header for the range specified in the first parameter. The value "ERR" occurred because the user typed in the string "RATE% XEU", the Unfortunately, this is a misspelled intent. The work buffer correction is to default to the second header on the left side of the table specified in the first parameter, in this example "RATE% XEU." The new field 643 is a display window that shows the value selected by a cell when its content is in the display window 642 equivalent.

When finally the new button 641 With the label "Copy" pressed, you can view the contents of the new display window 642 into the currently selected cell so that it passes through the display window 643 value shown. If the user of the spreadsheet with the pointing device 105 clicking on this "Copy" button, the previously in 5A described displayed on the display device according to 5B updated. The in the input window 514 The displayed content of the currently selected cell is that in the display window 642 shown content of the dialog box 640 content-aware online help information is identical and includes the same 513 displayed value, which is also in the display window 643 the dialog box 640 content-aware online help information. This scenario clearly demonstrates that in the preferred embodiment of the proposed invention, the spreadsheet user has reached the correct level of online help information.

D. Method of content-dependent help

• • In Schritt 401 befindet sich das Verfahren in seinem Standardzustand und wartet auf ein Ereignis zum Auslösen des Prozesses.
• • In Schritt 402 wird der Befehl Inhaltsabhängige Onlinehilfe erkannt, der durch den Benutzer eingegeben wurde. Dieser Befehl kann zum Beispiel durch eine bestimmte Tastenkombination über die Tastatur 104, das Anklicken einer bestimmten Schaltfläche mit der Zeigervorrichtung 104 oder durch ein anderes ähnliches Mittel eingegeben werden, die hier nicht näher beschrieben wird.
• • In Schritt 403 wird geprüft, ob das aktuell ausgewählte Objekt ein Benutzereingabefeld umfasst. In einer Tabellenkalkulationsumgebung wird zum Beispiel geprüft, ob das aktuell ausgewählte Objekt eine Zelle (und keine Schaltfläche, kein Graph oder anderes Objekt ohne Benutzereingabefeld) ist. In diesem Fall geht der Prozess weiter zu Schritt 404; ansonsten springt der Prozess zu Schritt 418.
• • In Schritt 404 wird der Inhalt des aktuell ausgewählten Objekts in einen Arbeitspuffer kopiert.
• • In Schritt 405 wird der Inhalt des Arbeitspuffers einer Textanalyse unterzogen, um ein im ersten Feld „Keyword" (Schlüsselwort) 302 der CDK-Tabelle 300 vorhandenes Schlüsselwort zu erkennen. Hierfür können in Abhängigkeit von der Ausführungsform verschiedene Textanalyseverfahren verwendet werden. wichtig ist nur, dass die Textanalyse von links nach rechts erfolgt. Wenn kein Schlüsselwort gefunden wird, springt der Prozess zu Schritt 418; ansonsten wird der entsprechende Datensatz 301 in der CDK-Tabelle 300 mit seinen Feldern „Keyword" (Schlüsselwort) 302, „Parameter Template" (Parametervorlage) 303 und „TextPtr" (Textzeiger) 304 markiert, bevor der Prozess zu Schritt 406 weitergeht.
• • In Schritt 406 wird eine lokale Variable mit der Bezeichnung „FieldUpdated" (Feld aktualisiert) mit dem Standardwert VALUE FALSE (falscher Wert) initialisiert.
• • In Schritt 407 wird das in Schritt 405 ermittelte Feld „Parameter Template" (Parametervorlage) 303 geprüft, ob es leer ist. Wenn dies der Fall ist, springt der Prozess zu Schritt 412; ansonsten geht der Prozess weiter zu Schritt 408.
• • In Schritt 408 wird der Inhalt des Arbeitspuffers mit dem in Schritt 405 ermittelten Feld „Parameter Template" (Parametervorlage) 303 verglichen. Dieser Textvergleich wird an derjenigen Stelle im Arbeitspuffer fortgesetzt, bis zu welcher der vorangehende Textvergleich in Schritt 405 erfolgte. Durch diesen Textvergleich werden im Arbeitspuffer der eine oder die Vielzahl von Parametern erkannt (falls vorhanden), die dem Schlüsselwort zugeordnet und im Feld „Parameter Template" (Parametervorlage) enthalten sind, und Folgendes bestätigt:
• • erstens, dass das Format der Parameter (falls vorhanden) im Arbeitspuffer mit den Formaten übereinstimmt, die in dem in Schritt 405 ermittelten Feld „Parameter Template" (Parametervorlage) 303 angegeben sind, und
• • zweitens, dass die Parameter (falls vorhanden) im Arbeitspuffer den Regeln folgen, die in dem in Schritt 405 ermittelten Feld „Parameter Template" (Parametervorlage) 303 angegeben sind.

In order to make advantageous use of the present invention, the method for setting up and displaying the content-dependent online help information in the in 4 shown flow chart 400 be summarized. This procedure is nothing more than processing the Content Dependent Online Help command.

• • In step 401 the process is in its default state waiting for an event to trigger the process.
• • In step 402 the command Content dependent online help, which has been entered by the user, is detected. This command can be, for example, by a specific keyboard shortcut 104 , clicking a specific button with the pointing device 104 or by another similar means, which will not be further described here.
• • In step 403 it is checked whether the currently selected object includes a user input field. For example, in a spreadsheet environment, it checks to see if the currently selected object is a cell (and not a button, graph, or other object without a user input field). In this case, the process continues to move 404 ; otherwise the process jumps to step 418 ,
• • In step 404 The content of the currently selected object is copied to a work buffer.
• • In step 405 the content of the work buffer is subjected to a text analysis to a in the first field "keyword" (keyword) 302 the CDK table 300 recognize existing keyword. For this, various text analysis methods may be used depending on the embodiment. it is only important that the text analysis is done from left to right. If no keyword is found, the process jumps to step 418 ; otherwise, the corresponding record 301 in the CDK table 300 with its fields "keyword" (keyword) 302 , "Parameter Template" (parameter template) 303 and "TextPtr" (text pointer) 304 marked before the process to step 406 continues.
• • In step 406 A local variable named "FieldUpdated" is initialized with the default VALUE FALSE value.
• • In step 407 will that be in step 405 Determined field "Parameter Template" (parameter template) 303 checked if it is empty. If so, the process jumps to step 412 ; otherwise the process continues to move 408 ,
• • In step 408 the contents of the work buffer will be the one in step 405 Determined "Parameter Template" field (parameter template) 303 compared. This text comparison continues at the location in the work buffer, up to which the previous text comparison in step 405 took place. This text comparison detects, in the work buffer, one or more parameters (if any) associated with the keyword and contained in the Parameter Template field, and confirms the following:
• • first, that the format of the parameters (if any) in the work buffer match the formats specified in step 405 Determined "Parameter Template" field (parameter template) 303 are specified, and
• • secondly, that the parameters (if any) in the work buffer follow the rules set out in step 405 Determined "Parameter Template" field (parameter template) 303 are indicated.

• • Wenn das Ende des Arbeitspuffers problemlos erreicht wird, geht der Prozess weiter zu Schritt 412.
• • Wenn ein Parameterfehler gefunden wird (wenn ein oder eine Vielzahl von Parametern nicht den im Feld „Parameter Template" angegebenen Regeln genügt), geht der Prozess weiter zu Schritt 409.
• • Wenn ein Formatfehler gefunden wird (wenn ein oder eine Vielzahl von Parametern nicht den im Feld „Parameter Template" angegebenen Regeln genügt), geht der Prozess weiter zu Schritt 412.
• • In Schritt 409 wird der in Schritt 408 gefundene Parameterfehler gemäß dem in Schritt 405 ermittelten Feld „Parameter Template" 303 korrigiert. Dann geht der Prozess weiter zu Schritt 411.
• • In Schritt 410 wird der in Schritt 408 gefundene Formatfehler gemäß dem in Schritt 405 ermittelten Feld „Parameter Template" korrigiert.
• • In Schritt 411 setzt das Verfahren die lokale variable FieldUpdated gleich dem Wert TRUE (wahr) und setzt den Prozess in Schritt 408 fort, um die Textanalyse des Inhalts des Arbeitspuffers zu Ende zu führen.
• • In Schritt 412 wird geprüft, ob die lokale Variable FieldUpdated gleich TRUE (wahr) ist. Wenn dies der Fall ist, geht der Prozess weiter zu Schritt 413; ansonsten springt der Prozess zu Schritt 415.
• • In Schritt 413 werden der Inhalt des Arbeitspuffers und sein Wert in den Hilfetext kopiert, auf den das Feld „TextPtr" (Textzeiger) 304 zeigt, sodass diese den Standardtext in der Anzeige überschreiben (im Allgemeinen ein Hypertextbezug, der auf die Beschreibung eines Pseudobeispiels zeigt).
• • In Schritt 414 wird die Schaltfläche „Copy" (Kopieren) 641 aktiviert.
• • In Schritt 415 wird eine Dialogbox der Online-Hilfeinformation wie beispielsweise die Dialogbox 640 angezeigt, welche als Hilfeinformation den Text enthält, auf den das Feld „TextPtr" (Textzeiger) 304 zeigt und der möglicherweise in Schritt 413 aktualisiert wurde.
• • In Schritt 416 wird auf eine Aktion des Benutzers in der angezeigten Dialogbox 640 gewartet. Wenn ein Klick auf die Schaltfläche „Copy" (Kopieren) 641 erkannt wird, geht der Prozess weiter zu Schritt 417; ansonsten geht der Prozess weiter zu Schritt 419.
• • In Schritt 417 wird der Inhalt des Arbeitspuffers in das aktuell ausgewählte Objekt kopiert.
• • In Schritt 418 wird die herkömmliche Online-Hilfeinformation gemäß herkömmlichen Verfahren angezeigt.
• • In Schritt 419 wird der Prozess mit herkömmlichen Verfahren fortgesetzt, sodass der Benutzer der Tabellenkalkulation zwischen herkömmlichen Dialogboxen der Online-Hilfeinformation navigieren kann, bis er das Online-Hilfetool schließt. Dann springt der Prozess zurück zum Anfangsschritt und wartet auf die Eingabe eines neuen Befehls Inhaltsabhängige Onlinehilfe.

This textual analysis can give rise to three different situations.

• • If the end of the work buffer is easily reached, the process continues 412 ,
• • If a parameter error is found (if one or a plurality of parameters does not satisfy the rules specified in the Parameter Template field), the process continues 409 ,
• • If a format error is found (if one or a number of parameters are not the same as in the Field "Parameter Template" specified rules is sufficient), the process goes on to step 412 ,
• • In step 409 will be the one in step 408 found parameter errors according to the in step 405 Determined field "Parameter Template" 303 corrected. Then the process continues to move 411 ,
• • In step 410 will be the one in step 408 found format error according to the in step 405 corrected field "Parameter Template" corrected.
• • In step 411 The method sets the local variable FieldUpdated equal to the value TRUE and sets the process in step 408 continue to complete the text analysis of the contents of the work buffer.
• • In step 412 it is checked if the local variable FieldUpdated is TRUE (true). If so, the process continues 413 ; otherwise the process jumps to step 415 ,
• • In step 413 the contents of the work buffer and its value are copied into the help text to which the field "TextPtr" (text pointer) 304 so that they override the default text in the ad (generally a hypertext reference that points to the description of a pseudo-example).
• • In step 414 becomes the "Copy" button 641 activated.
• • In step 415 becomes a dialog box of online help information such as the dialog box 640 displayed, which contains as help information the text to which the field "TextPtr" (text pointer) 304 shows and possibly in step 413 was updated.
• • In step 416 is based on an action of the user in the displayed dialog box 640 maintained. When clicking on the "Copy" button 641 is detected, the process continues to move 417 ; otherwise the process continues to move 419 ,
• • In step 417 The content of the work buffer is copied to the currently selected object.
• • In step 418 The conventional online help information is displayed according to conventional methods.
• • In step 419 the process continues with traditional methods so that the spreadsheet user can navigate between conventional online help information dialog boxes until he closes the online help tool. Then the process returns to the initial step and waits for a new command Content-Dependent Online Help.

alternative embodiments

The Method and system of content-dependent help according to the present Invention can be advantageously used in such environments, in which information elements in the form of multidimensional tables organized with more than three dimensions. Generally speaking, The present invention may be beneficial in office and business environments and in particular in relational databases, word processing systems, presentation programs, Graphics programs, project management tools and integrated development and development Programming tools are used in which the user information elements can enter according to certain rules and a specific syntax.

Even though the invention particularly with reference to a preferred embodiment is illustrated and described, it is clear that various changes can be attached to the mold and to details without being defined in the appended claims Scope of the invention deviate.

Claims (13)

A method for providing online help information in an office application comprising one or a plurality of objects, wherein the online help information ( 624 . 642 . 643 ) of the content ( 504 ) of a selected object ( 503 ) and the method comprises the following steps: 402 ) an online help command as a result of a user action; • Recognize a selected object ( 503 ); • Determine ( 403 ), whether a user input field on the selected object ( 503 ); when a user input field is applied to the selected object ( 503 ): • Identifying the content ( 504 ) of the user input field; • Analyze ( 405 ) of the content ( 504 ) of the user input field to detect if a predefined keyword ( 302 ), where a keyword ( 301 ) by a string ( 302 ) is marked; for each in content ( 504 ) of the user input field recognized keyword ( 301 ): • Detect ( 407 ) of predefined help information ( 303 . 304 ) (if any) corresponding to the recognized keyword ( 301 ), the help information indicating one or a plurality of parameters associated with that keyword; and recognizing one or a plurality of formats and rules related to this one or more parameters; • Analyze ( 408 ) of the content ( 504 ) of the user input field to identify the one or more parameters that are included in the given help information ( 303 ) are given; • Check ( 410 ), whether formats of these one or a plurality of parameters in the user input field correspond to formats which are stored in the predefined help information ( 303 ) are given; • Check ( 409 ), whether that one or the plurality of parameters in the user input field correspond to the rules set out in the predefined help information on ( 303 ) are given; if the content ( 504 ) of the user input field does not correspond to a format or rule specified in the help information of a predefined keyword identified in the content of the user input field; • Correct ( 409 . 410 ) of the content of the user input field corresponding to the one or more formats and rules specified in the help information ( 303 ) and the content of the corresponding selected object and displays ( 415 ) of the corrected content ( 642 . 643 ) and the associated help information. Method according to the preceding claim, comprising the following steps: for each in content ( 504 ) of the user input field recognized predefined keyword ( 301 ): • Recognition of a predefined help text ( 304 ) (if available) in the keyword ( 302 ) associated help information ( 303 . 304 ); • Show ( 415 ) of the predefined help text ( 304 ) preferably in a help window ( 640 ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of displaying the predefined help text in a help window comprises the following preceding step: 413 ) of the corrected content ( 642 ) of the user input field into the predefined help text ( 624 ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of recognizing the content of the user input field further comprises the following step: 404 ) of the content ( 504 ) of the user input field into a work buffer. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein which is the step of correcting the contents of the user input field also the following step includes: • To save of the corrected content into a work buffer. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of correcting the content of the user input field further comprises the following step: 415 ) of the corrected content ( 642 ) preferably in a help window ( 640 ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, which further comprises the following step: 417 ) of the corrected content ( 514 ) of the work buffer as a result of a user action ( 416 ) into the selected object ( 513 ). A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of: automatically copying the corrected content ( 514 ) of the working buffer into the selected object ( 513 ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or the plurality of predefined keywords ( 302 ) in a table ( 300 ) and this table for each predefined keyword ( 301 ) Includes: • a keyword ( 301 ) defining string ( 302 ); • Help information (if available, which includes: • a parameter template ( 303 ) (if any) indicating one or a plurality of parameters associated with the keyword, and one or more formats and rules for the one or more parameters; and • a help text ( 304 ) (if available) or a reference pointing to the location where the help text is recorded. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following preceding step: defining one or a plurality of keywords ( 301 ); • recording one or more keywords in a table ( 300 ), where the table comprises for each keyword: • a character string identifying the keyword ( 302 ); • help information (if available), which includes: • a parameter template ( 303 ), if applicable, indicating one or a plurality of parameters associated with the keyword and one or a plurality of formats and rules for the one or more parameters; and • a help text ( 304 ) (if available), or a reference pointing to the location where the help text is recorded. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein which the office application a multi-dimensional table is showing a variety of cells includes, which is characterized by a cell address for each dimension and online help information about the contents of a selected cell depends. System comprising means for executing the Method according to one of the preceding claims is suitable. Computer program, which instructions which are suitable for carrying out the method according to claims 1 to 11 when the computer program is executed.